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Support

Last Updated: 15 Aug 2024

If you have experienced or witnessed inappropriate behaviour in a Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplace that has caused you harm—whether physical or emotional—the PWSS can provide trauma-informed support and provide early intervention and resolution. 

Bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment, is unacceptable in all workplaces, including within Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces. 
This may include instances of:

Bullying and harassment

Bullying occurs when a person or a group of people repeatedly behave unreasonably towards you and the behaviour creates a risk to your health and safety.
Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance, unwelcome request for sexual favours, or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature towards you.

Discrimination, including racial discrimination

Discrimination is when a person is treated less favourably, or not given the same opportunities, as others in a similar situation, because of a particular personal characteristic such as sex, age, race, gender, disability, religion or sexual orientation.
Stalking or intimidation

Stalking or intimidation is a criminal offence in Australia and can include: following you making unwanted contact
Assault

Assault is any act that is intended to cause you injury or harm. Assault is a criminal offence in Australia.
Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is any unwanted or forced sexual act, activity or behaviour. It can include anything sexual online or using a mobile phone.

Other workplace conflict

You may experience other workplace conflict that creates a risk to work health or safety, feel free to call us to discuss.

Resources

We can support you and connect you to other support services.

You can contact a PWSS case coordinator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Phone: 1800 PH PWSS (1800 747 977)

Email: support@PWSS.gov.au

Text: 0487 112 755

In person: The PWSS office is located in M2.105 at Parliament House. The PWSS office is staffed from 8:30am-5pm on non-sitting days and from 8:30am-8pm on sitting days. PWSS case coordinators are available to meet with you face-to-face or virtually at a time that suits you.

Meetings can be arranged either at Parliament House or offsite.

Help from other places

There are other organisations to help you and provide you with support. We can connect you with a range of other services such as:

  • Rape Crisis Lines
  • Sexual Assault Counselling Australia
  • 1800RESPECT
  • Domestic Violence Impact Line
  • LGBTIQ+ Violence Service
  • Lifeline
  • BeyondBlue
  • MensLine Australia
  • Police